Shannon & The Clams Explore Classic Surf Roots in New Video for “Backstreets”

Shannon & The Clams have always been known for blending 50s and 60s surf, rock and garage influences on their way to being one of the most exciting new bands to come from the Bay Area in years. Their new album Onion will be released in a few weeks on February 16 and today they’re sharing a new video for the song “Backstreets.”

The song is a perfect example of their ability to blend two different classic rock styles – this time glam and surf – into an unforgettable pop song. This time guitarist Cody Blanchard takes over lead vocals. The first verse is pulled straight from the 50s pop song-book, the metaphor of being a “runaway” right in line with the era.

“‘Backstreets’ has had a tumultuous existence,” says Cody Blanchard. “It was one of the last things we wrote for the record. It had a completely different hook at first and nobody liked it except our keyboard player Will and we tabled it, but Will saw promise there and really wanted it to make the album. At the final rehearsals before leaving for Nashville, he suggested we just keep the verses and mash the song together with this other glammy hook I had written (the half-time “takin’ the backstreets…” part) that needed verses to go with it and we all loved the weird combo.”

All in all, it’s one of the highlights of their new record, which will be their first release on Dan Auerbach’s new label Easy Eye Sound. In addition to Shannon Shaw appearing as a solo artist on Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Revue Tour, the band will be touring in support of the new album. They were just announced as a performer at the upcoming Panorama Music Festival in July and will have several shows in February, March and April of 2018.

Shannon & The Clams Tour Dates

02/10 – Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC, Canada
02/11 – McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR,
02/12 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA,
02/14 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
02/17 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
02/18 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
02/19 – The Observatory – North Park San Diego, CA
02/20 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
02/22 – Canton Hall – Dallas, TX
02/23 – Stubbs BBQ – Austin, TX
02/25 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
03/22 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
03/24 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
03/24 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
03/25 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
03/27 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
03/28 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
03/29 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
03/31 – Agora Theatre & Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
04/02 – Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
04/03 – Palace Theatre – St. Paul, MN
04/04 – The Truman – Kansas City, MO
04/05 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO

Photo Credit: Marisa Rose Ficara